Alleged Worcester assault draw cops to pot trove

WORCESTER 
A neighbor dispute involving a threat of a hammer attack Wednesday night at 39 Vinton St. led police to the discovery of 31 marijuana plants growing in the basement.

A man told police when they arrived about 10:30 p.m. that noise coming from the apartment of a neighbor, Phuong Tran, sounded like Mr. Tran, 35, was destroying the entire building. Police noticed the glass was smashed out of the front door, and there was blood by the door.

“The neighbor stated that Phuong went after him with a hammer when he opened his own apartment door to see where the commotion was coming from,” according to a news release posted on the Police Department's website. The neighbor said Mr. Tran fled after the alleged assault.

Police found out that there were children living in Mr. Tran's apartment. After several knocks by police on the broken door, a 14-year-old boy eventually answered.

“When the door opened police observed a haze of smoke emitting from inside the apartment,” according to the release. Police said they observed that the interior of the apartment was destroyed. When police asked if there was anyone else in the home, the boy replied that he has two brothers who were hiding, according to police. Fearing for the welfare of the boys, the officers conducted a search of the premises.

Police could see that the entire apartment was destroyed, and noticed blood on the walls. There was also a strong odor that seemed to them to be of a chemical nature. Police found a large, opened glass jar that contained marijuana. Officers went down to the basement to look for the boys and found marijuana growing. The basement appeared to be the origin of the strong chemical odor, according to police.

They eventually found the two boys, 10 and 13, hiding in a room on the second floor. The boys were not injured.

Police took the boys to a nearby relative's home. Because of the level of destruction of the dwelling, and the presence of the marijuana, officers reported the incident to the state's Department of Children and Families.

Police recovered the marijuana plants in various stages of development, along with marijuana growing lights, hydroponic devices and fertilizers.

Wrentham police apprehended Mr. Tran around 3:30 a.m. today and transported him back to Worcester.

Police charged him with three counts of domestic assault with a dangerous weapon (hammer), assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, distribution of marijuana and possession of marijuana with the intent to manufacture.

Mr. Tran was scheduled to be arraigned today in Worcester Central District Court.